The sneaker market reached $17.5 billion in retail value, an increase of 3%, according to data compiled by NPD Group, with unit sales up 3% and ASPs flat at $60.61 indicating unit sales of about 290 million pairs. Without specifying the final quarter performance, NPD said the market increased in each of the first three quarters of the year but declined slightly in the seasonally important Q4.

NPD attributed the Q4 softness to the fall out from the Sports Atrocity and Sport Chalet bankruptcies, who were fighting for their survival during the final quarter of 2015 and were, of course, ... Log in to view full article.